Accotink is a member of UUSJ, a regional (Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia) social justice organization established by local area Unitarian Universalist churches and social service agencies. UUSJ’s objectives are to help UU congregations strengthen their individual social justice efforts; to stimulate joint social justice activities among area UU congregations; and to elevate area UU’s awareness of the importance of social justice work in our faith tradition. Task forces work on helping local congregations make a difference in focused areas. They team geographically and regionally to multiply their impact. For more on UUSJ, visit their web site at http://www.uusj.org.

UUSJ is a membership organization. It is funded by dues, donations by UU congregations and individuals, and by grants. By paying annual dues Accotink gains one member on the UUSJ board. That position is currently filled by Mike McCord.

Here are just a few of the events that UUSJ has been involved with this year. Each year in October, UUSJ operates a booth at the DC Green Festival in cooperation with the Ministry for Earth and Green Sanctuary. Several AUUCers help to staff the booth and support the Green Festival.

On Nov. 1, 2007, UUSJ hosted a successful “Inspired Faith, Effective Action” workshop, with Bill Sinkford as a key speaker. On Jan 5, UUSJ co-sponsored a Virginia legislative issues program with presentations by the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy as well as GLBT and immigration organizations. Manu AUUCers were in attendance at these events.

Each quarter, there is usually a workshop and meeting for the Virginia congregations to discuss their social justice activities and to coordinate joint ventures.